Motor-vehicle.



V. V. TORBENSEL MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2s,1911.

1,032,517. Patented July 16, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

V. V. TORBENSBN.' MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED No'v. 2e. 1911.

3 SHBETB-SHEBT 2.

WITNESSES:

Patented July 16, 1912.

V. V.' TORBBNSEN.

MOTOR VEHIGLE.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV.28. 1911. 1,032,51.. Patented July la, i912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NVENTOR BY s V7 7@ ATORNEYS STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

VIGG-O V. TORBENSEN, OF BLOMFIEID, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 TORBENSEN GEAR AND AXLE COMPANY, 0F BLOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY,

.A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specification et Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it kno-wn that I, Visco V. TonnNsEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to an axle therefor, and ,the construction and arrangement of transmission gear casings and the manner-of securing the same to the axle. l

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple axle of maximum strength and eiiieiency for the amount of material employed. i

Another object lof my invention is to so construct and arrange the` axle' and the casing for the dierential gearing that a simple and stanoh construction islaltained-one by which, in the preferred for'in of my invention, thetransmission shafts may be' readily alined and the casing made to constitute a component part of the axle.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange and construct all of the casings inclosing the transmission' gearing between stood and the objects of the invention will i more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompzuiying drawings forming a part of thisl sjncilication, and in whiclb Figure 1 shows, in part, a longitudinal sectional View of a motor truck axle equipped with transmission gearing and gear casings and embodying the preferredform of my invention;- Fig. v2 shows a rear elevation of the same, with certain' parts broken away; Fig 3 shows a View of a por tion of the preferred form of axle itself; Fig. Il is a plan view of a plate mounte'qtlon the outer end of the axle adjacent the tread Wheel to form, with flanges on the Wheel, a gear easing; vllig. 5is a cross sectional view of the same; and Fig. 6 shows a clamp for securing certain parts together.

-Referring to the drawings (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), 1 is an axle which, in the preferred form of my invention, is of I cross section. In the form shown, the vertical web of the axle has an expanded or enlarged central portion 2 and the axle is provided'near its outer ends with horizontal seats or brackets 3-3 for supporting the springs or any portion of the body of the vehicle, and with vertical brackets 0r supports 4 for securing parts of the gear casing hereinafter referred to, while the outer ends 5 of the axle beyond the vertical brackets, are made cylindrical in cross section. The ends of the axle are preferably formed with central openings for receiving stub axles G, on which tread wheels 7 are mounted.

lnthe form shown, the vertical .web p0rtion is provided on one side with an annular shoulder 8 against which tits an annular flange or shouldered portion 9 projecting `from a gear casing 10, which is provided with sleeves 11 extending longitudinally of the main axle and entering annular plates 12 mounted on the cylindrical portions 5 of the axle. The .sleeves are supported from the vertical brackets 4 of the main axle by nir-ans of split clamps 13 bolted to the brackets and surrounding the sleeves Iandheld together by bolts 14. The plates 12 are held from rotation by means of threaded bolts 2O which pass through vertical flanges 2l on the split clamps 13 and enter threaded openings 1n ribs or projections 22 formed on the back of the plates 12.

Each tread wheel 7 is provided with a hub 23 having an annular flange 2t to which is secured a .laterally extending annular flange or drum 25 having a running joint ,2G with a lateral iange 27 on the inner face of the adjacent plate 12. The lateral flanges or drums 25 are provided with internal gear wheels 2S meshing with pinions 29 carried at the outer ends of jack shafts 30 which extend from .differential gearing hereinafter mentioned, in the casinglO. Each lateral flange or drum'25 forms with the adjacent flanged h-ub 23 and platel1 2 a casing 1ncllos-A ing the adjacent gear whee128 and pinion 2SA). Each tread wheelvis also provided with an lannular flange 31 bolted thereon and having its outer end 32 bent laterally toward the adjacent plate 12 so asgto form a second lateral flange or drum extending between the wheel and the plate, and this flange or drum also has a running joint 33 with the A plate l2; andiy with the outer portion of the plate it forms a second or outer casing around the first casing. If desired, an emergency brake band 34 may be placed within this outer casing so as to operate upon the inner surface of the drum or flange 32, and a service brake band 35 may be placed around the outer surface of the flange or drum to engage therewith. It will be noted that thel gear wheel4 and pinion are thus protected 'by a' double casing or, looking at it in another way, by a casing having' an inner and an outer cylindrical wall. And it will be further noted that the running joints 26 and 33 are out of alinement with each other so'as to avoid any possi; bility of a direct stream of water being forced into the inner casing as when -washing off the vehicle. Any dust, fluid or foreign matter which may pass the outer running joint 33 will be caught within the outer casing and be prevented from reaching the inner gear wheel and pinion. This construction thoroughly protects the teeth of the gears adjacent the wheel from being ground out by grit and dirt, which is one of the greatestfsources of annoyance in ymotor vehicles of this type.

The main axle is provided,.on its opposite face from the casing 10, with a second annular shoulder 3S, preferably concentric with an opening 39 through the vertical flange of the axle, and also concentric with the annular shoulder 8. Against the shoulder 38 ts a lateral flange 40 of a .sleeve 41, in which is journaled, at 42, a driving shaft 43 which may extend directly from the engine or may be connected therewith through suitable multiple speed gearing mounted in a casing 44 preferably formedy integral with the sleeve 41. The shaft 43 has mounted on its end, a bevel-pinionl which meshes with a bevel gear 46 rigidly secured to short sleeves 47 journaled in the ends ofthe casing 10, as

shown at 4,8. 1. The gear wheel 46 is connected, through 'the usual form ofdilferential,

gearing 49, to the respective jack shafts 30, 30 which, through the pinions 29 and gear wheels 28, drive the tread wheels 7.

1t will be observed that, by providing the vertical 'web portion of the axle with shouldered portions, against which shouldered.

portions or flanges of the gear casing snugly fit, all lateral stresses and strains between the casing and the axle are taken up by these ouldered. portions, which firmly hold the l rom relative movement;- and by suitably securing the casing to the axle, as by bolts 50, the casing is held in place against the axle, and a very stanch and rigid enthe manner shown, and with the sleeves ll rigidly secured to the main axleat its outer ends, that the casing and sleeves constitute a component part of' the main axle, and form therewith a rigid and substantial structure and one which may be readily assembled or disassembled. 1t will also be observed that when the gear casing is placed on the opposite side of the main axle from the drive shaft 43, and the shouldered portions on t-he opposite faces of the web are formed concentric, that the driving shafts Vmay be readily alined and the proper mesh- ,fing of the bevel gears insured, simply by slipping the shoulders or flanges 9 and 38 of the casing and the sleeve 41 into engagement with the respective annular shoulders on the opposite faces of the vertical web. lt will be further observed that the vertical flange of the axle forms a part of the wall of the casing 10, and that all parts of the driving mechanism are held lirmly in alinement and are thoroughly protected from grit or dust.

`While I have shown and described my invention in'what 1 now believe to be its best form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that certain features of the invention may be used independently of other featuresshown and described, and that` various modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts may be used, without departing from the spirit or scope of-my invention, and l do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfkother than as set forth in the appended claims.l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle havingv a vertical web portion, a gear-casing on one side of the vertical plane of the axle and having a flange portion rigidly secured to the lateral face of the web portion of the axle, sleeves extending from the casing on either side thereof along'the axle toward the wheels, and means rigidly securing' the sleeves to theaxle.

2. ln a moto-r vehicle, the combination of an axle, a gear casing bn one side of the vertical plane of the axle and having shouldered engagement with the side thereof to hold the casing rigidly from lateral movement with respect thereto, sleeves extending from said casing and running longitudinally of the axle, and means rigidly securing the sleeves to the axle.

3. ln a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle having a vertical Webportion, a

gear-casing on one side of the axle having a flange-portion engaging the Web portion of said axle, said engaging portions fitting one Within the other, means for rigidly holding said engaging portions together, sleeves exl tending from either side of the easing loning.

gitudinally df the axle, and means rigidly securing the sleeves to thel axle.

4. In a motorvehicle, the combination of an axle having a'vertical web portion, a gear-casing on one side thereof rigidly secured thereto, saidfWeb portion having a transverse opening therethrough, and a transmission shaft extending from the opposite side of the axle through said opening and into the casing.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination ot dan axle, a gear-casing on one side thereof and rigidly secured thereto, transmission gearing in said casing,`a shaft extending transversely of the axle and into said casing and geared with said gearing, and a ineinber rigidly secured to said axle' at the opposite side thereof from the casing and provided With a bearingin Which said shaft is jourlialed. Y

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle having a ,vertical web portion, a gear casing on one side of the axle having an annular flange portion engaging the web portion of said axle, said engaging portions fitting one Within the other, means rigidly holding said engaging portions together, a member on the opposite side of the axle from the casing provided With'an annular 'shoulder of less diameter than the iiange of the casing and having shouldered engagement with the web portion' ofthe axle, means for securing said member rigidly to the axle, a transmission shaft journaled in saidv niember and extending through the axle to the casing, and gearing in the casing geared to said shaft.

7. In a motor.vehicle, the vcombination of an axle having av vertical web portion with an opening therethrough, a gea1;'-casiiig on one side ot' said axle having a iiange engag-l ing said Web, 'means for rigidly securingsaid casing to the axle, a member rigidly secured to the Web on the opposite side thereot from the casing, and a transmission sha tt journaled in said member and passing through saidaopening in the axle to the cas- 9. In a motor vehicle, the combination ot annxle, a gear casing on one side of the axle having shouldered engagement therewith to hold the casing 'rigidly troni lateral movenientl with respect thereto, .sleeves extending from either side of the casing and running longitudinally oi the axle, casing plates mounted on the ends of the axle concentric therewith and having openings for receiving said sleeves, and means for rigidly securing said plates to the axle. y

l0. in a motor vehicle, the combination oi" an axle having an enlarged vertical Web portion provided with a transverse opening therethrough and also/provided on one side with an annular shoulder concentric With said opening, and on the other side With an annular shoulder of less diameter than the first shoulder and. also' concentric Wit-h Vthe opening, a gear casing on one side of the axle having a late 1al annular tiaiigeengaging one of said shoulders, a, sleeve on the opposite sident said axle having` a iiange engaging the other shoulder on the opposite side of the axle troni the casing, means rigidly securing said flanges 'to the axle. a transmission shaft journaled in the sleeve and passing through the opening in the axle to the casing, and gearing in the casing geared to said shait, whereby the shaft and gearing may be readily alined and firmly held in alinelnent without strain on the casing. f l

11. A, motor vehicle axle ofl cross section having an expande-d Web portion with a transverse opening therethrough for a drive shaft and having around said opening concentric shoulders. ot' different diameters, formed on each iace oi5 the expanded portion, ioi' supporting, respectively, a gear casing` and the driving shaft.

l2. A motor vehicle axle of I cross section provided with4 horizontal and vertical supiorting tianges `adjacent each end thereot', the web `having an expanded portion in- -tei'niediate said -ifianges With an annular shoulder formed therein for receiving a geargcasing. the ends of the axle beyond the fianges being cylindrical in cross section and adapted to receive casing plates and tread Wheels. V

13. In a in otor vehicle, the combination of lan axle of I cross section with a transverse opening through the' web thereof, a

` gear casing on oneside of said axle'liaving ay iiange enga-ging the web of the axle, means for rigidly securing said casing to the axle, a member rigidly secured to the web on the opposite side thereof from the casing, and a transmission shaft. `iournaled in said member and passing through said opening in the web to the casing.

14. ln a motor vehicle, 'the.combination of an axle having an expanded web portion,

a gear casing on one side of the axle pro-- j dered engagement with said expanded web portion'of the axle to hold the casing rigidly :trom lateral movement' with respect to the axle,'casing plates mounted on the ends "of the axle, sleeves extending rom either side of the casing longitudinallyof the axle andl supported in said plates, and means for rigidly securing said plates to the axle.

15. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a gear casing, and an axle at one side ofv the casingliaving a vertical web ortion to which' the casing 'is secured and, orming a part of the Wallof. said casing and provided with an opening therethrough for receiving a transmission shaft to the casing.

. 16. In a motor vehicle, thecombination of an axle having an enlarged vertical web portion, a gear'ca'sing on onev side of the axle provided-With an annular Hange having shouldered engagement with said enlarged Web portion of the axle to hold the casing rigidlyy from lateral movement with respect to the axle, means for rigidly holding said casing tothe axle, a sleeve on the opposite side vof the axle from the casing and having'shouldered engagement with the enlarged Web portion of the axle, said enlarged web portion of the axle having an opening inalinement with said sleeve, .a

shaft Aextending through the sleeve and through said opening into the casing, and gea-ring in the casing geared to said shaft.

17. In a motor. vehicle, the combination of an axle .having an enlarged vertical web portion provided with a transverse opening therethrough and also provided on one side with an annular shoulder, a gear casing lthe casing and in alinement with the;open ing through the axle, gearing in said casing, and a' shaft passing through the sleeve and geared to said gearing in the casing.

18. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle having an enlarged vertical web portion, a gear casing on one side of the axle provided with anannular flange 'hav ing shouldered engagement with said enlarged web portion of the axle to hold the casing rigidly from lateral movement with respect to the axle,'sleeves extending from each endof the Vcasing longitudinally of the axle, a flange on .the axle adjacent each end thereof, and split clamps-surrounding'said sleeves and rigidly secured to said tlange. 19. Ina motor vehicle,'the combination of an axle of I cross-section having an expanded Web portion, a gear Icasinglsecured to the axle at `the expanded'web ortion,

sleeves extending 'from the gear casing-'lomgitudinally yoit the axle, an annularv late 'outer'` ends of the sleeves-enter, vertical",

brackets adjacent the plates, and means fol` securing the sleeves to said brackets.

20. In a' motor vehicle, the combination of anI axle of I cross section having an ex; pandedl Web portion, a gear casing secured to the axle 'at the expanded' web portion, sleeves extending from the gear casing lone gitudinally of the axle, an annular plata mounted on each end of the axle, the Plates being provided Witlropenings-in which lthel outer ends of the sleeves enter, vertical brackets adjacent the plates, means for securing the sleeves to said brackets, tread Wheels on the ends of the axle, transmission gearing in the casing, jack-shafts geared to said gearing and extending `through the sleeves to the Wheels, and pinions on lthe outer ends of the shafts 'geared to the Wheels.

21. In a motor vehicle, the combination i of an axle having an expanded web portierav with a shoulder formed thereon, a gear casi ing at one side of the axle having a lateral flange engaging the shoulder and secured to the axle at the expanded` web ortion,l sleeves extending from the gear casing lon-' Lgitudinally of the axle, an annular plate mounted on each end of the axle, the plates being provided with openings for receiving the outer ends of the sleeves, means for rigidly securing the plates to the axle, tread Wheels on the ends of the axle, transmission gearing in the casing, jack shafts geared to said gearing and extending through the sleeves and plates to the Wheels, pinions on the outer ends of the shafts geared to the wheels, and means at each end of the axle including a lateral flange extending between 'the adjacent plate and the Wheel and connular flange extending between the plate and the hub-flange and vsecured to onel and" form therewitha gear casing inclosingsaid pinion and gear wheel, and a second lateral" having a runningl joint with the other to'- annular flange extending between the Wheel and plate land 'secured to one and having a Y runningljoint with the other to form therewith; a second casing surroundingV the first. 23. In a motor vehicle, the combination 'of'an iixle, a tread wheel at the outer end of the' axle, said Wheel having alanged hub, a lateral annular flange secured to the hub-- flange, an internal gear Wheel carried` said flange, a plate mounted concentric with the tread Wheel and provided with a transverse opening, sleeve secured to the axle and extending into said opening, a jack shaft in saidv sleeve passing through Ythe opening, a pinion on the outer end of the shaft meshing with the gear wheel, a lateral liange on the plate having a running joint with the flange supporting the internal gear wheel to form with said last tiange and the hub and plate an inclosed gear casing sur rounding said pinion and gear wheel, a second liange on the tread wheel extending from the huhflange and having a lateral annular extension extending between the wheel and the plate, and a second flange on the plate having a running joint therewith,

`whereby a second cylindrical inclosed casing is formed around ,the first casing.

24. In a motor vehicle, the combi/nation of an axle, a tread'wheel atthe outer end of the axle, said wheel having a flanged hub, a lateral annular ange secured to the hubflange, an internal gear wheel carried by said flange, a plate mounted concentric with the tread wheel and provided with a transverse opening, a jack shaft passing through the opening in the plate, a pinion on the outer end of the shaft meshing with the gear wheel, a lateral. flange on the plate having a running jointwith the flange supporting the internal gear wheel 'to form withsaid last flange and the hub-flange and plate an inclosed gear casing surrounding said pinion and gear Wheel. a second iange on the tread wheel extending from the huh-flange and having a lateral annular extension extending between the wheel and the plate,

Y' and a second flange on the plate having a running joint therewith out of alinement with said first running yomt, whereby a second cylindrical inclosed casing is formedy around the first casing.

25. In a motor vehicle, the combinationof an axle having an enlarged vertical web portion, a gear casing on one side of the axle provided with an annular flange having shouldered engagement With said enlarged web portion of 'the axle to hold the casing rigidly from lateral movement with respect to the axle, a tread wheel supporting the end of said axle, a plate mounted at the outer end ofthe axle adjacent the tread wheel and having al transverse opening therein, a jack shaft Vextending from the gear casing into said opening, a pinion on thel end of said shaft, and gearing connecting said pinion with the tread wheel.

26. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle having an enlargef'i vertical Aweb portion, a gear casing on one side of the axle provided with an annular iange having shouldered engagement with said enlarged web port-ion of the axle to hold the casing.

rigidly from lateral movement with .respect to the axle, a tread wheel supporting the end of the axle, a plate mounted atv-the outer end of the axle adjacent the tread wheel i and having a transverse opening therein, a

sleeve extending from the gear casing lonlform therewith a casing inclosingsaid pinion andgear wheel.

27. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle of I cross section having an expanded web portion, a gear casing secured to the axle at the expanded web portion` a tread wheel mounted on the end of the' axle, an annular plate mounted on the axle adjaf cent the tread wheeland having a transverse opening therein, a sleeve extending from the casing longitudinally' of thevaxle and entering said opening, a shaft passing through said sleeve and opening, a pinion on the en d of said shaft, gearing connect-ing the said pinion with the tread wheel, and m'eans intermediate the casing and the plate for se-.

curing the sleeve to the axle.

28. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle of I cross section having an expanded web portion, a gear casing secured to the axle at the expanded web portion, a tread wheel at the outer end of the axle, an annular plate mounted adjacent the t-read wheel and concentric therewith and having a transverse opening therein, a jack shaft extending from the casing and entering said opening in the plate, va pinion on the end of ythe jack shaft, gearing connecting said pinion and tread wheel, and means operatively related to salid plate to form therewith a casing inclosing said pinion and gearing'.

Q9. In amotor vehicle, the combination of an axle of I cross section having an expanded web portion, a gear casing secured to the axle at the expanded web portion, a tread wheel at the outer end of the axle, an annular plate mounted adjacent-the tread wheel and concentric therewitfi and having a transverse opening therein, means for rigidly securing said plate to the axle, a jack shaft extending from the casing land entering said opening in the plate, a pinion on the end of the 'jack shaft, gearing connecting said pinion and tread wheel, and means including two lateral annular lianges extending between the tread wheel and the plate to forni therewith a casing with inner'and outer cylindrical walls inclosing said pinion and gearing.

30. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle of I cross section having an expanded web portion, a gear casing secured to the axle at the expanded web portion, tread Wheels on the ends of the axle, a plate mounted adjacent each of said tread 'Wheels and I consent-rie therewith and each having a transverse opening therein, transmission gearing in the casing, jack shafts geared to. seid gearing and extending through the openings in the platee, pnions on the outerends or' the shafts, gearing connecting said pinions with the tread Wheels, and means including lateral annuler flanges operatively related to each of seid plates and forming therewith casings inolosing said pinion? end connected gearing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specication, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

VGGO V. TORBENSEN.

Witnesses z v SAMUEL M. WARD, Jr., .EDWIN ,EGER. 

